Bethel fire station open house Jan. 31

LAKE WYLIE Bethel Volunteer Fire Department will host an open house 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 31 on Oakridge Road. The station is behind the old No. 1 station off Highway 557.

The department moved into the new station Nov. 22.

York County Council approved $2 million in 2013 from the special tax district budget that funds the department. Completion date was May 26, 2014, but delays pushed the opening back. Council approved $20,000 in contingency money and a 50-day extension when new soil was needed after a wet and snowy winter.

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Then, when firefighters were ready to move in last summer, the concrete cracked beneath the weight of the trucks. The builder and tax board held off on opening. Still the project came in at budget.

3 York County deputies earn Medal of Valor

YORK COUNTY Two York County sheriff’s deputies and a former deputy have been awarded a state Medal of Valor for their heroic actions when another officer was shot at a Fort Mill home last year.

Lt. Chris Blevins, Master Deputy Greg Garrison and former Deputy Jason Powell received the award from the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association.

On Jan. 7, 2014, the three deputies were helping the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s Violent Crime Apprehension Team serve a warrant on James William Lewis, the sheriff’s office said. Lewis was wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a Pineville, N.C., restaurant.

Police believed Lewis was staying with his girlfriend, Kirstie Barratt, at a home on Brookside Drive in Fort Mill.

Barratt told officers Lewis was not in an upstairs bedroom of the house, police say, but when officers went into the room, Lewis opened fire, striking Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Shane Page twice.

Blevins and a Charlotte-Mecklenburg officer carried Page downstairs and out of the house to administer first aid.

Lewis also was shot in the exchange of gunfire, police say, but Garrison and Powell were able to persuade him to surrender without further gunfire.

“Through their actions,” said Sheriff Bruce Bryant, who nominated the men for the honor, “Lt. Blevins and deputies Garrison and Powell remained calm and resolved the situation, while saving the life of Officer Page and keeping the York County community safe from a violent offender.”

Lewis is undergoing “extensive psychological testing” to determine if he is competent to stand trial or if he was insane at the time of the shooting, according to federal court documents. That testing is scheduled to last until at least Feb. 27. He has previous convictions for cocaine and motor vehicle theft, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.

Barratt pleaded guilty in October to lying to police and was sentenced last month to two years in prison.

Sheriff’s office holding public forum

YORK COUNTY The York County Sheriff's Office will hold a public forum to discuss the success of the YCSO/ICE 287g program at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in the jury assembly room of the Moss Justice Center.

Sheriff's Office staff and ICE officials will answer questions.

Spayer/neuter pet for $20 this month

FORT MILL The Humane Society of York County has teamed up with PetSmart to offer $20 spay/neutering for dogs and cats through Jan. 31.

There are two locations – one in Charlotte NoDa and another in Pineville, N.C. There are no limits on the number of pets that can be spayed or neutered, but all must be done by appointment.

The HSYC, 8177 Regent Parkway, is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter. For more information, including how to adopt a pet, become a volunteer or make a donation, visit the shelter, call 803-802-0902 or go to humanesocietyofyorkcounty.org.

Life jacket designs wanted

ANNAPOLIS, MD BoatUS Foundation seeks the best new design for the 2015 Innovations in Life Jacket Design Competition. Deadline is April 15. Designs must be submitted to BoatUS.org/design.

A short video about the competition is available at http://youtu.be/wSfdANt_lGU. Winners, with a $10,000 prize, will be announced in September at the International Boat Builders Exhibition and Conference in Louisville, Ky.

Red Cross plans blood drives

YORK COUNTY The American Red Cross asks eligible blood donors to make a resolution to give blood regularly in 2015, beginning with National Blood Donor Month in January.

To learn about donating blood and to schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.

Apply for Citizens Police Academy by Jan. 31

YORK COUNTY The York County Sheriff’s Office is taking applications for the Citizen’s Police Academy.

The academy runs 6:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays for 10 sessions March 2-May 4. A formal graduation will be held May 11.

The Citizens’ Police Academy will introduce participants to functions of the York County Sheriff’s Office and will feature instruction by staff from the divisions. The goal is to create partnerships with York County residents for better efficiency.

The free class is open to adults 18 and older.

Applications, accepted through Jan. 31, are available at the York County Sheriff’s Office, district offices and at yorkcountysheriff.com. Call 803-628-7634 for more information.

Disney Junior TV series premiere Feb. 1 in Fort Mill

FORT MILL The Complex on the Greenway has partnered with the local Macaroni Kid and Disney Junior to have a premiere party for Disney Junior’s new Intergalactic Adventure Series, “Miles from Tomorrowland,” at 2 p.m. Feb. 1 at Springs Complex, 971 Tom Hall St.

Children ages 2-7 and their parents are invited to a futuristic adventure on a mission to the stars. The story is designed to fuel interest in space and the importance of the family bond.

Danielle Gaddy of Lake Wylie and publisher of the Macaroni newsletter and website, said the show will air for first time at 9 a.m. Feb. 6 on the Disney Junior channel with four back-to-back episodes.

“York County was chosen to have an exclusive party before the kids see Miles on TV for the first time so this is a honor,” said Donna Britsch of Tega Cay, who also works on the newsletter and website.

The event is free but reservations are required, visit fortmill.macaronikid.com.

Master gardener class set in Gaston County

GASTON COUNTY Learn how to be a master gardener by enrolling in the program offered by NC Cooperative Extension in Gaston County.

As part of CBCC’s sixth annual Pints for Pounds campaign, CBCC will donate 7 pounds of food to Second Harvest Food Bank for each blood donation made in through February.

Call 704-972-4700 or visit cbcc.us for more information.

Observe HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

ROCK HILL Feb. 7 marks the 15th annual observation of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative. Catawba Care in Rock Hill will mark the day at noon at McBryde Hall at Winthrop University with free tax filing information, free immunizations, health screenings, food and entertainment.

ROCK HILL Registration is open for the 10th annual Joy of Gardening Symposium set for Feb. 28 at Baxter Hood Center.

Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of York County, the day-long event will include seven gardening experts, break-out sessions, vendors and a chance to win door prizes.

The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $60.

To register, visit symposium.yorkmg.org/registration.

To pay by mail, make checks payable to: Master Gardeners of York County, and mail to: 266 Fischer Road, Fort Mill, SC 29715.

St. Patrick’s Day vendors needed

CLOVER The town of Clover is accepting vendor applications for the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day Festival March 14.

Early registration is due Jan. 30. Deadline is Feb. 27. For information, call 803-222-9493 or visit cloversc.org.

Flu shots for children available

YORK COUNTY Free flu shots for children are available at the Early Learning Partnership’s free children’s clinic.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fridays in the Rock Hill Family Resource Center, 410 E. Black St. Children birth to age 18 who do not have health insurance can see a doctor or nurse practitioner. Services include sick visits, immunizations, and sports and school physicals.

For appointments, call 803-322-6636.

Other clinics are held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in York, Fort Mill and Clover. York County children may attend any of the four clinics.

CHS Class of ’85 plans reunion

CLOVER Clover High School Class of 1985 is looking for classmates for the 30-year reunion.

YORK COUNTY Agape Senior has a new volunteer program, Canine Forward, which offers regular free dog walking and playtime services for seniors living independently, but who are physically unable to exercise their animals.

The program recognizes the importance of the relationship between the owner and his or her pet.

The program depends on volunteers for walking, playing with and brushing the animals.

Canine Forward provides training. To volunteer, call 803-329-4544.

Animal shelter seeks volunteers

YORK York County Animal Shelter Adoption Center, 713 Justice Blvd., needs volunteers to help bathe and groom, exercise, socialize, train, provide adoption information and follow-up, and publicity and marketing.

Volunteers must be 18 or older, and go through orientation and training process. For more information, call 803-818-6485.